Gas water heater



oct 9, 1492s. 1,687,101

' v. MAucK @11s WATER HEATER I Filed Maron si. 1926' 2 Sheets-'sheet' 1 Patented Oct. 9, 1928.

lUNLlTl-:D STAT'IFLSA PATENT orifices,

VICTOR Matrox, orV MERION, rnNNsYr.VANin.v

GAS WATER HEATER.Y

Application ined March a1, `192e. seran No. 98,19@

and Which is constructed` and arranged to.

automatically regulate and maintaina predetermined temperature ofthe Water stored in said reservoir, by thermostatically operative means; vthe essential feature of my invention herein claimed comprises means .for

facilitating the removal and replacement with respect to any form of heater, of what is termed in the trade a Water spreader to Wit, a Water container which extends immediately above the gas burner so as tobe heated by the flames from the latter and kwhich is adapted to cause the Water to spread and circulate therein in contact with the hot Wall of the spreader the latter having at its upper portion an axial tubular neck provided with a screw thread for engagement with the bottom of the reservoir and through which the Water passes to and from the interior of the spreader. f course, the efficiency of such a heater is dependent upon the rapidity and facility with which Vheat is transmitted through the' lower Wall of the spreader, and it has `been found in practice that practically every municipal Water supply includes mirfy eral matter which is precipitated and de.- ;if, posited in such a spreader and forms a heat insulating coatingr upon lthe interior of the spreader which materially lessens its eiT ciency. rlhe rapidity with Which such deposit is made is of course dependent upon the i nature and quantity of the mineral matter carried by the Water and, in some portions 1 of the United States, for instance, 1n lVisconsin, it is necessary to maintain such a heater economically operative, to remove the i.; incrusted spreaders and replace them with new ones at intervals not exceeding six Weeks, Therefore, a very considerable item inthe cost of maintenance of such heaters the labor involved in effecting' such removals and no replacements. The amount of labor required is far in excess of that required to initially assemble the parts in question; because both the spreader and the bottom .of the reservoir with which it is connected are 'ordinarily formed of ferric metal, which 1s readily corroded by contact even withv substantially rpure water, Whereas, the aforesaid mineral matters inthe Water have a `corrosive action upony thescrew threads ofthe spreader and reservoir Which are interengaged; causing them to swelllas a consequence of their oxidization; so that it is sometimes necessary to break .the spreader into fragments at said joint to remove it.

i Therefore, the object and efectof my invention is to lessen and practically eliminate above contemplated, :by interposingat. said joint, a metal member Which'is not only refy sistant to .corrosion but soft,.and fusible at a low temperature; so that it maybe readily removed, either by unscrewing itorby meltf ing it, to permit the immediate removal of the spreader.

In` the preferred form of my invention hereinafter described; there is interposed be.- tWeen the ferrie metal of the spreader and Athe .ferric metal of the .Water reservoir; a

tubular sleeve formed kprincipally yof lead but containing a small percentageof antimony and which ,may be readily melted andk cast.

in the desired form .with sharp screw threads upon it, WithoutY cost- .for machining vthe latT ter, and Which may be as readily reinelted lto permit the instant release `and separation of the parts between Whichit is interposed.

My invention includes the kvarious novel features of construction and varrangement hereinafter more definitely specified.

rIn the drawings: Fig. I is a vertical sectional view of a gas Water heater of the thermostatically controlled type aforesaid with a convenient embodiment of my invention embodied therein.

Fig. II is a. top plan view of the Water spreader and its appurtenances indicated lin Fig. I, but on a larger scale. l

Fig. III is a vertical sectional y'ieiv of said spreader and its appurtenances taken en the line III, III in Fig. II in the plane of section of Fig. I and showing the fusible alloy sleeve interposed .betweensaid spreaderand lthe reservoir.y

Fig. IV is a side elevation of a peculiar forni of Wrenchfor removing and replacing my improved spreader.

,F V is a diametrical vertical sectional vieW ofsaid sleeve indicated in the preceding figures but in its vinitial normal form, before it is deformed bythe compression which is incident to its use in themanner described.

the excessive costs for the heater .repairsA luc , spreader.

In said figures; the Water container comprises the cylindrical metal shell 1, having the cold Water inlet2 and hot Water outlet 3 at the top thereof, and the combustion chamber 5 at the bottom thereof. The diaphragm G forms the bottom closure of the Water space 7 in said container 1, and the top of said combustion chamber. 'Ihe flue 10'has its lower' end connected with said diaphragm 6, and extends to the outer atmosphere, through said Water container, parallel With, but eccentric to,.the aXis of said container shell 1.

vThe hollen7 oblate Water spreader 11 is mounted in eccentric relation Wit-h said diaphragm4 6 and extending below the latter in said combustion chamber; having at its upper portion, in coaxial relation, an externalvly screw threaded neck flange 12 surrounded by4 the internally and externally screw threaded fusible metal sleeve extending inra corresponding opening` surrounded by t-he flange l-l in said diaphragm Said spreader has, in coaxial relation therewith, butveccentric to said container, the socket 15, engaged with the lower end ot' the het Water riser pipe 16 which terminates in spaced relation With the top ot said container shell 1. Said spreader also has tive diametrically spaced cold Water inlet nozzles 17, at respectively opposite sides of said socket l5 and in communication With the Water space 7 through said spreader neck 12.

The Water drain pipe 18 extends from the bottom of said spreader 11 to the exterior oi' said combustion chamber 5 Where it is provided with the drain cock .19, through which sediment may be Withdrawn from said rlhe collar 2O encirclcs said drain pipe 18, and is provided With the set screw 21 to secure it in adjusted position. rl`he gas burner includes the hollow horseshoe-shaped body 23, having the radially extending cross bars 24; forming axial bearings 25 embracing said drain pipe 13 and resting upon s id collar 20. The miXin g tube 26 enten ds from said burner body 23 in eccentric tangential relation thereto but in diametrical relation with y said container 1 and combustion chamber 5,

as best shown in Fig. II, and is slip fitted over the gas supply tube 27. rI`he arrangement is such that said burner may be readily Withdrawn and replaced laterally with respect to said pipe 18 and collar 20 which support it.

Als shown in Fig. I, the gas conduit 30 leading to said burner 23 has the automatically, thermostatically, operative valve 31, arranged to control it in accordance With the expansion and contraction of a thermostatic element in the tube 32 which is rigidly connected with said valve. Said tube 32 ez;- tends diametrically in the Water space Z in said container shell 1, between said flue pipe 10 and hot Water riser pipe 16, and said valve 31 and tube 32 are detachably'connected with said container shell 1 by the screw thread on the valve casing engaging the spud 33 said `operative needle valve 35 in said conduit 2i" between said stop cock and said burner 23., to control theelfective area of the gas inlet port Within said conduit 27.

I provide said Water container and combustion chamber With the heat insulating casing including-the eXteriorshell 38 in concentric spaced relation with said container' shell 1, and refractory porous lining 39 torthe same forn'iing a. cylinder filling the space between said shells 1 and 38. Said heat insulating' casing includes the metallic top cover l0 having a retractory lining'. l1, and the base cov-er d2 having the opening 43 in coaxialk relation with said water container shell 1; affording access vto the combustion chamber 5 to permit the op rator to normally adjust an d clean said burner 23 and to also remove and replace said spreader V11, as above contemplated; f

I-Iowever, if the burner 23 remains thus eX- posed; a considerable volume and pressurek of gas would be required to maintain' it lighted; Whereas, I find that the desired temperature of the stored Water can be maintained by the combustion of gas at suoli a slow rate that it would be impossible to thereby continuously maintain the flames all at said burner, if the latter Were exposed to any air draft.

Therefore, I provide a heat insulating closure for said opening 43, including the annular metal frame l5 containing the lining 4G of porous refractory material. Said closure 45'is detachably connected With said base l2V by the clip 43 which is stationaryV uponV said casing cover 42, and the slide catch 49 which is mounted to reciprocate'.through the stationary bight 50 upon said casing cover i1-2, diametrically opposite to said clip d8. Said base 42 has flanged plates Welded thereon to detachably engage the legs 53.'

Said heater mechanism operates as :tollows: Said catch` 49 being Withdrawnand said bottom closure 45 removed to aii'ord access to the combustion chamber 5, and .said needle valve 35 being retracted to permit the passage ofgas to the burner 23; the gaslis turned on by opening the stop cock 34to the position shown in Fig. I, and the gas ignited at the outlets in the top ot' said burner 23 to rorm the flames 4A. Thereupon, said closure ll5 is replaced and secured as indicated in F ig. I, and, by the operation of the thermostatic element 32, affected and effected by changes in the temperature of the Water in the container chamber 7 g more or less gas is permitted to pass through said supply conduit 30 and the valve 34 and around the valve 35 to said burner 23 to heat the Water in said lil() spreader.

of said gas is let in to the` chamber 5, only through the minute pores of said lining 46 and interstices at the junctions -of said closure 45 withsaid outer casing cover 42; so

thatv small flames 44 may be continuously maintained upon said burner 23 in an atmosphere which is undisturbed by any air draft.

Owing to the oblate form ofsaid spreader 11,v

the hot water rises within it to the top thereof and flows upwardly 4through the riser 16 into the upper part ofsaid container chamber 7 displacing a corresponding volume of cold water which flows downwardly through said spreader neck 12 and nozzles 17 into con-A tact zwith the hot lower wall of said spreader,

thus circulating the water from said container 1 through said spreader until thehdesired temperature thereof is reached and inain-v tained. n l n Of course,said thermostatically controlled valve 31 operates to gradually diminish the volume of gas permitted to pass therethrough i in accordance with the rise in'temperature of the water in said space 7 until the minimum is reached which will maintain the desired temperature of the stored water under` normal conditions. Under such conditions, the gas fiames 44 remain continuously lighted in said burner 23, although theyV fluctuate in height in accordance with the volume of gas being consumed which, offcourse, dc- 'pends upon the rate at which water is drawn from the space 7 `with consequent lowering of the temperature thereof by the influxv of coldwater through the pipe 2.

Therefore, the construction and arrange-r mentabove contemplated are such that said ieater might be thus continuously operated, automatically, if it were not for the continuously augmented incrustation of the interior` of said spreader 11 by deposition of mineral` matter from the water being 'heated and, as

i., catch 49 outwardly; said closure may be .then

released from theclip 48 and removed. Removal of the burner 23 may then be effected withoutremoval of any of the pipe connections, by merely shiftingvsaid burner to the left iii Fig. I enough to releasethe outer end of the miXing'tube 26 from the gas supply tube 27. Said burner may then be partly turned around'said drain pipe 18 and withdrawn fromthe latter.

Although said spreader The air necessary for combustion.

at intervals as 11 may then be,Y

unscrewed by anyconvenient meansj I yfind, it convenient to employ thewvreiicli shown` in Fig. IV, which'includes the cup' shaped disk 56 having the annular Hnge 57 which is slightly larger in `illiteltllll diameter than theeXternal diameter of the spreader 11 and which has a circular series of bayonet slots 58 adapted to receive and engage the circular series of lugs 60. Said lugs are conveniently cast uponsaid spreader 11 so as to. radially project V at the perimeter thereof. Said wrench pipe 18, coliar`20 and the lower cylindrical portion of said spreader 11, and said shank has holes 63 drilled therethrough at right angles gto detachably receive the cross bar 165- by which the entire wrench may `be turned. Said vwrench being inserted through kthe opening 43 in the' base of the heater casing, and engaged with the spreader lugs 60, maybe turned to `unscrew said spreader and its sleeve 13 from the internally screw threaded flange 14 of the heater diaphragm 6, if said sleeve 13 adheres to the spreader neck 1 2, as is usually the case.k However, if'said sleeve adheres to tie screw thread in ythe annular flange 14 in the diaphragm 6, it may be readily melted and permitted to run'y out by' application of an ordinary portable gas'blast burner. y

. A sshown in Fig. `V, said sleeve 131s primarily a tube having a straight cylindrical inner surface provided with a straight screw thread' 67, but having a conical outer surface provided with a tapered screw thread 68y adapted to fitl the screw thread in said flange 1 4 in the diaphragm 6 which is orf/ the Briggs standard tapered form for pipey vfitting, However, the serewthread on the `spreader neck flange 12 terminates above the shoulder 69 on saidspreader so that when a sleeve 13 is initially screwed thereon, without distortion, it comes to rest with its lower end `above said shoulder, say, tothe extent rof oneeighth of an inch, but,` when .forced into the position shown in Fig. I, by rotation of ythe spreader 11, said sleeve 13 is stretched and deformed until it comes down upon said shoulder 69 of thev spreader, tightly gripping the screw thread on said spreader neck 12. Therefore, said sleeve 13 being of soft ductile metal, forms a packing which is compressible and deformable in the assembling of the parts .so as to; readily form ra water-tight disk 56 has the tubular shank 62,- which islarge enough to slip over the drain l Il:

lli'

ioint between said neck 12 and flange 14,

withoutv the extreme torsional stresses which are necessary to form a water-tight screw joint between ferriometals, as heretofore.

In other words, my invention not only avoids the difficulties heretofore experienced in effecting repairs due to corrosion of the ferric metals indirect contact with each other, but permits the formation of a better joint at less expense, 4both primarily in the me e,

lil

assembling vof the water heater, and theresharper screw threads than an alloy` which shrinks upon cooling. Moreover, although I prefer to form the above contemplated bodies of low fusiblermetal independently of the ferrie metal members between which they are to be interposed, they may be cast `directly upon and in connection with either theniale or female ferrie member, and may be secured uponeither 'of such members without being screw threaded, as the swelling of the softer metal, abovecontemplated, `causes it to grip the harder metal member with such force as to retain its position under the stresses to which it may be subse pientlyy subjected. However, I do not desire to limit myself to a metal having such capacity to swell upon cooling', as the form of the sleeves 13 herein disclosed is such that any ductile lmetal thus formed would be compressed to formja tight joint by the operation of assembling the fer-ric metals between which itis interposed. Moreover, instead of forming the interposed soft metal member independently of the hard metal members, as above described` thehard metal members may be assembled inthe desired relation and the soft metal member cast between them in a fused state to form the oint.

Therefore, I do not desire to limit myself to thevprecise details of construction and arrangement herein set forth, as it is obvious that various modifications may be -made therein without departing from the essential features of my invention, as delined in the appended claims.

I claim: Y

l'. In a gas water heater; the combination with a casing, including an outershell having a diaphragm intermediate of the length thereof forming' a water container above saidvdiaphragm and a combustion chamber below said diaphragm; said diaphragm having an axial opening surrounded `by a flange provided Awith an internal screw thread; of a spreader comprising a hollow casting having an axial tubular neck adapted to extend within said diaphragm opening, in spaced relation with the walls thereof; an annular shoulder on said spreader below said neck; a sleeve of a fusible metallic alloy, fusible below 800O F., softer than said vdiaphragm and spreader, and having an internal screw thread littedto said spreader neck and an external screw thread iitted to said diaphragm flange; the internal screw thread in said sleeve being straight 'and theextern'al screw thread being tapered to a them deforms said sleeve into contact with said shoulder onthe spreader andfintov contact with said screw thread in said diaphragmV i'lange, forming a watertight oint; said joint being readily disconnected by reverse relative orby fusing said sleeve.L

rotation of said spreader and diaphragm and 2. In a gas water heater; the combinationy with a casing, including an outer shell forining al water container above aburneijsaid container having a bottom opening provided withan internal screw thread; of a'spreader comprising a hollow casting having an axial tubular neck adapted to extend opening, in spaced relation with the walls thereof; an annular shoulder on said spreader below said neck; a sleeve of metallic alloy, fusible'below 800 F. softer than said con-Y tainer and. spreader and having an internal screw thread Fitted to said spreaderneck and anv externalfscrew thread litted tosaid container opening; the internal screw thread in said sleeve being straight andthe external screw thread being tapered to a pipe standard; whereby relative rotation of said spreader and container to assemble them deforins said sleeve into contact with said shoulder on the spreader and into Contact with said screw thread in said container, forming a watery tight oint; said joint being readily disconnectedV by reverse relative rotation of said'Y spreader and container and or by fusing-saidsleeve.

3. In a gas water heater; thecombinationl with a casing, including an outer shell forming a water container .above a burner; said containerhaving a bottom opening provided with an internal tapered screw thread; of a spreader comprising a hollow casting having an axial tubular externally screw threaded neck adapted to extend within said opening,

in spaced relation with the walls thereof; an

annular shoulder on said spreader below said neck; a sleeve of metallic alloy, fusible below 800 F., softer than said container and spreader and having an internal screw thread fitted to said spreader neck thread and an eX- within sai d IUS lll)

ternal screw thread fitted to enter said Vcontainer opening, but primarily larger, at its outer end, than said opening; whereby relative rotation of said spreader and container to assemble them deforme said sleeve into contact with said shoulder on the spreader and into Contact with said screw thread in said container, forming a water tight joint; said joint being readily `disconnected by reverse relative rotation of saidvspreader and container and or by fusing said sleeve.

4. In a gas water'heater; the combination with a water container, above a burner and havingan opening provided with an internal screw thread; of a spreader comprising a hollovv body having a tubular externally screw threaded neck adapted to extend Within said opening, in spaced relation With the Walls thereof; a sleeve'of loW fusible metallic alloy, fusible below 800 F.,ysofter than said 'container and spreader, and having an internal screw thread fitted to said spreader neck thread and an external screu7 thread fitted to said container opening, but primarily larger, at its outer end, than said opening; whereby relative rotation of said spreader and container to assemble them compresses said sleeve between said container and spreader, forming a Water tight joint; said joint being readily disconnected by reverse relative rotation of said spreader and container and or by fusing said sleeve.

5. An article of manufacture, formed of soft metal having a fusing point below 800 F., adapted to rform a conduit j oint, and consist-ing of va conical body having a cylindrical opening therethru; and having a tapered screw thread at its conicalr surface and a cylindriform screw thread at its cylindriform surface.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Conshohocken, Pennsyl- Vania, this 29th day of March, 1926.

' VICTOR MAUCK. 

